Apparatus for handling well elements

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for picking up and laying down elongated well elements such as pipe, tubing and sucker rods characterized by a rotatably mounted upright means carrying supporting means telescopically extendible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the upright means, a boom having one end pivotally connected to the supporting means, means for pivoting the boom with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supporting means to raise and lower the other end of the boom and gripper means on the boom for releasably holding an elongated well element generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom.

United States Patent 191 Hutchison .111 3,710,954 51 Jan. 16,1973

154] APPARATUS FOR HANDLING WELL ELEMENTS [75] inventor: Stanley 0. Hutchison, Bakersfield,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Chevron Research Company, San

Francisco, Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 201,773

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 865,261, Oct. 10, 1969,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..2l4/2.5, 214/1 B, 214/147 T, 214/152 [51] Int. Cl. ..E2lb 19/00 [58] Field of Search....2l4/2.5, 1 Q, 1 BD, 1 B, 1 BS, 214/] BV, 147 T, 15 L [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,112,830 12/1963 Podlesak ..2l4/l47 G X O'Neill Cl iii. 21 1 25 x Dcvul ..2l4/l ll X Primary Examiner-Drayton Hoffman Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney-.1. A. Buchanan, Jr., R. L. Freeland, Jr., G. F. Magdeburger and E. J. Keeling [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for picking up and laying down elongated well elements such as pipe, tubing and sucker rods characterized by a rotatably mounted upright means carrying supporting means telescopically extendible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the upright means, a boom having one end pivotally connected to the supporting means, means for pivoting the boom with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supporting means to raise and lower the other end of the boom and gripper means on the boom for releasably holding an elongated well element generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom.

12 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 16 ms 3. 71 0.954

SHEUIUFS AIR SUPPLY INVENTO R STANLEY 0. HUH/SON ATTORNEY PATENTEI] JAN 16 I975 SHEET 2 OF 5 INVENTOR STANLEY O. HUTCH/SON F|G.3 FIG.5

AT'LDRQEYS FIG.2

INVENTOR STANLEY O. HUTCH/SON BY Lw SHEET t 0F 5 wok PATENTEDJAN 16 1975 [III A! ATTORNE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING WELL ELEMENTS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 865,261, filed Oct. 10, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apparatus useful in handling elongated well elements such as pipe, tubing and sucker rods and, more particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for picking up and laying down elongated well elements such as tubing sections between a substantially horizontal storage position and a substantially vertical use position.

In oil well operations, elongated well elements such as tubing, pipe and sucker rods are often used for such purposes as well production and well drilling. For example, tubing sections are often connected together to form an elongated segmented string for use in a well. In a typical well operation involving the use of a segmented pipe or tubing string, the string is made up of a number of individual sections which are coupled together. For example, a tubing string which might be used for producing a well or for other operations in a well is made up of a number of individual tubing sections which are coupled together so as to form an elongated tubing st ring. A rig or hoist is used to lower each successive tubing section into the well to approximately its full length. After the tubing section has been lowered to such a position it is gripped near its upper end by suitable means such as slips to suspend it in the well. The hoist is then releasedfrom this tubing section and a second tubing section is connected to the hoist and then to the first tubing section. The second tubing section is then lowered into the well to its full extent, and it is then held by the slips and the above sequence repeated. As this sequence is repeated, successive tubing sections from a tubing string which progressively goes deeper and deeper into the well. Conversely, if such a tubing string is being removed from the well the hoist is connected to the uppermost tubing section and the entire tubing string lifted until such tubing section clears the well. The remaining tubing string is hung by the slips in the wellhead and the uppermost tubing section is then uncoupled and laid down. Heretofore in normal field operations the laying down and picking up of such tubing sections, or the like, from a storage position for use in the well was an operation which was primarily done manually. Although attempts have been made to mechanize this operation, these attempts have not been completely successful. This is particularly true where it was desired to maneuver the tubing between a horizontal storage position and a vertical use position.

. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to apparatus for handling elongated well elements which are coupled together to form an elongated well string for use in a well. The apparatus provides for handling the well elements between a vertical attachment to or'disconnection from an elongated segmented well string and a horizontal storage position located adjacent the well.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Apparatus is provided for picking up and laying down elongated well elements including pipe, tubing and sucker rods, which apparatus includes a generally upright means carrying supporting means telescopireleasably holding an elongated well element generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom has one end pivotally connected to the supporting means.

Means are provided for pivoting the boom between a generally upright position and a generally horizontal position to provide for moving the elongated well element between a substantially horizontal storage position and a substantially vertical use position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A particular object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for picking up and laying down elongated well elements including pipe, tubing and sucker rods.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view and illustrates the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention in operational relationship adjacent a well;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view, with parts broken away for clarity of presentation, and-illustrates a portion of the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of apparatus assembled inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken at line 6 6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

. FIG. 8 is a top view, with portions broken away for clarity of presentation, and illustrates an extendible and retractable gripper means of the preferred embodiment of apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a top view, with parts broken away for clarity of presentation, and further illustrates'an extendible and retractable gripper means of the preferred embodiment of apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the ap paratus illustrated in FIG. 9; v

FIG. 1 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a reduced size partial side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken at line 13-13 of FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 14-19 are schematic elevation views illustrating the operational sequence of the preferred embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the present inventlon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred form of apparatus assembled in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus of the present invention is useful in handling elongated well elements between a horizontal storage position and a vertical operational position. Thus the apparatus of the present invention is useful to lay down or pick up tubing used in a well. The terms laying down tubing and picking up tubing mean, respectively, taking a tubing section which is disconnected from the tubing string and placing it in a horizontal manner on a pipe rack, or the like, and taking a tubing section from a horizontal position on a pipe rack, or the like, and positioning it in a vertical manner for connection in a tubing string. The environment in which the invention is useful includes, for example, a

- well containing a well casing 12 having a wellhead generally indicated by the number 14 located at the earths-surface. A tubing string 16 extends down the well through the wellhead and through the. tubing hanging slips 18 positioned on the wellhead 14. The tubing string is held by means of elevator 20 which is connected to traveling block 22 by means of elevator links 24 and 26. Hoist cables 28 and 30 connect the traveling block to a hoist (not shown). Power tongs 32 and backup 34 are located above wellhead 14 to disconnect or to connect the threaded tubing sections into the tubing string.

The preferred embodiment of apparatus for handling elongated well elements such as pipe, tubing or sucker rods in accordance with the present invention is connected to the wellhead by base plate 34 which may be bolted by suitable bolts 36 and 38 into position on the wellhead 14. It is also possible, of course, to mount the apparatus of the present invention on a hoist truck, or the like, since it need not be fixedly connected to the wellhead. A generally upright means 40 carries supporting means 39, which means is telescopically extendible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the upright means. The upright means 40 is rotatably mounted on the base plate 34. The rotatable mounting, for example, may be accomplished by connecting base flange 43 fixedly to a rotatable base combination made up of members 85, 86 and 44. This base combination is rotatably connected to base plate 34 by suitable bearing means. Gear teeth are provided on the circumferential portion of gear 44 and cooperate with the gear teeth on gear 46 to rotate the upright means 40 when gear 46 is rotated by suitable means such as hydraulic or pneumatic motor 37 which may be mounted on base plate 34.

A boom 50 extends out of the upper end of the generally: upright means 40. As will be discussed in more detail below, one end of the boom is pivotally connected to the supporting means 39. Means are provided for pivoting the boom with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supporting means 39 to raise and lower the other end of the boom 50 to pick up or lay down tubing. Thus a suitable hydraulic or pneumatic arrangement is connected across the pivotal connection between the boom and the supporting means to raise and lower the boom when desired. A hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 56, 57, 74 which is expandable and retractable is connected to tabs 72 and 74. The tabs 72 holding of lower boom portion 51 in the supporting and 74 are connected to the boom across the pivotal connection in a manner so that when the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is retracted the boom will be pivoted to a near horizontal position.

The supporting means 39 carrying the boom 50 is telescopically extendible with respect to the longitudinal axis of the generally upright means 40 by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 52 containing push rod 54 which is connected to the supporting means 39 by means of tab 70. The lower end 53 of the hydraulic cylinder 52 is connected to the base flange 43 by means of tab 71. Thus when hydraulic cylinder 52 is extended, arm 54 telescopically extends support means 39 longitudinally with respect to upright means 40. When the action of the hydraulic cylinder 52 is reversed, the support means 39 is retracted with respect to the upright means 40. Gripper means 62 and 64 are connected to the boom 50 and are used for releasably holding an elongated well element generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom. Suitable pneumatic or hydraulic lines are connected through control panel 60 to the various hydraulic cylinders for operation thereof is more fully explained below.

The boom and associated components of apparatus of the present invention is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-5. The generally upright means 40 carries a support means 39. The support means 39 is telescopically extendible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the upright means 40. This extension and retraction is accomplished by means of hydraulic cylinder 52 which has one end 53 fixedly connected to the lower end of the upright means 40 by means of tab 71. An arm 54 which extends out of hydraulic cylinder 52 is connected to the support means 39 by means of tab 70. The tab is arranged to slide in slot 69 of the upright means 40 as the support means 39 is extended or retracted with respect to the upright means 40. Thus as pneumatic or hydraulic fluid is directed to the cylinder 52 through one of a pair of inlets 76, 77, the support means 39 is extended or retracted between the position shown in FIG. 2 and the extended (but not rotated) position illustrated in FIG. 4.

A boom 50 is pivotally connected to the supporting means 39. In the preferred embodiment, the boom 50 is formed in an articulated manner and has a pivotal connection 78 between the main boom 50 and the lower boom portion 51. The lower boom portion 51 is constrained within supporting means 39 and is thus extendedor retracted with the supporting means 39. The

means 39in an upward vertical sense is preferably done by only light friction betweenthe two members. Thus, if for some reason gripper arms 62 and 64 are not retracted prior to raising the split traveling block 22,

then the articulated boom 50, 51 would simply be lifted vertically out of the support means 39 and'no damage would be done to the rest of the apparatus. Connected across the articulation or pivotal connection 78 is an expandable and retractable hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 56'. One end 58 of the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 56 is connected to the lower boom portion 51 by tab 74..Tab 72 connects an extendible-retractable arm 57 of the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 56 to the main boom 50. Both tabs 72 and 74 travel in slot of upright means 40. Thus when the arm 54 of hydraulic cylinder 52 is fully extended to lift the support means 39 to the position shown in FIG. 4, the boom 50 may be pivoted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supporting means 39 to raise or lower the other end of the boom 50 to position a tubing section in a vertical or horizontal mode as desired. This is inclined in phantom in FIG. 4. Once the boom is lowered as shown in FIG. 5, a flat portion 79 of the pivoted end of boom 50 is moved so that it may travel in slot 80 and the boom may be lowered to a position near the lower portion of the upright means by retracting arm 54 into cylinder 52. Slot 81 in supporting means 39 facilitates assembly and disassembly of the apparatus.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 the rotatable mounting of the upright means 40 and the apparatus associated therewith is shown in greater detail. The entire upright apparatus of the invention is rotatably mounted on base plate 34 by suitable bearing means 83 and 84. As noted above, the base plate 34 may be connected directly to a wellhead or, if desired, may be connected with a hoist or other suitable mobile means. In the preferred embodiment the rotatable base combination on which upright means 40 is fixedly mounted is formed in an eccentric manner. This eccentric mounting of the upright means 40 provides a means for centralizing the gripper to engage tubing or rods that may be in an offset annulus position in the well. Thus depending on a specific wellhead arrangement, the gripper means may be directed to tubing or rods which are offset from the center of the well. Thus base flange 43 is fixedly connected to an eccentric member 85 which, in turn, is connected to a gear member 44 which has teeth engaging an opposing gear member 46. Rotation by suitable means of gear member 46 causes rotation of gear member 44 and the associated elements connected therewith. Thus the upright means 40 is rotatably mounted and the supporting member 39 and the boom 50 are rotated with the upright means 40. This rotation may be through any angle or are desired so that pipe may be laid down or picked up at a desirable position in relation to the well.

In FIGS. 9-13, the preferred form of gripper means for use in the present invention is shown. The gripper means are used to releasably hold an elongated well element generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom. In the preferred form, the gripper means are extendible and retractable while so releasably holding the well element such as a tubing section. Thus the gripper means may be extended out to a position to grasp a tubing section in a manner parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom. The grippers may then be retracted to move the tubing away from the well and closer to the boom.

The gripper means include a double walled expanding chamber to carry the gripping arms 100 and 101 out against the tubing section. Thus an inner tubular member 88 is connected to boom 50 by suitable means such as threaded sleeves 130 and 131. A base plate 90 containing a hydraulic or pneumatic inlet 91 closes off the rear of the first tubular member .88. A piston member is formed inside the first tubular member 88 by closing off the end of a second tubular member 92 by means of plug 94 and base plate 96. A third tubular member 66 is connected to the second tubular member 92 and is arranged to telescopically ride over first tubular member 88. A key way 98 is provided in the first tubular member 88 and a key 99 is carried on the interior of the third tubular member 66 to cooperate with key way 98 to keep the telescopic tubularmembers aligned. Thus when fluid is injected through tubing 91 into the interior of the first tubular member 88, the second tubular member 92 and the third tubular member 66 are expanded telescopically from the position illustrated in FIG. 8 to the position illustrated in FIG. 9. When it is desired to retract the second tubular member 92 and the third tubular member 66 and the pipe gripping arms carried therewith from a position illustrated in FIG. 9 to the position illustrated in FIG. 8, fiuid is injected through conduit 113, passageway 111, passageway 115, into chamber 116 where the pressure acts to retract the second and third tubular members.

I The pipe gripping arms 100 and 101 are normally maintained open by means of the balance provided by opposing springsl02 and 104. These springs act on opposite sides of piston 106 which is slideably carried.

within the second tubular member 92. The piston 106 is connected to the gripping arms 100 and 101 by a push rod 108. The push rod 108 is provided with two channels 110 and 111. These channels are used to carry hydraulic or pneumatic fluid to various chambers for use in operating the gripper means of the present invention. Thus when it is desired .to close the gripper arms 100 and 101 to releasably hold a well element such as pipe, tubing or sucker rods, fluid is injected through line 112 into passageway 110 through piston 106 and into the chamber formed inside the second tubular member 92 behind piston 106. The pressure exerted by this fluid on piston 106 forces it forward compressing spring 102 and closing the pipe gripping arms 100 and 101. When it is desired to open the grippers, the pressure is bled from this chamber back from conduit 110 and line 112 to allow spring 102 to force piston 106 to a neutral position thus opening gripper arms 100 and 101 to release the well element. A rear wall extension 109 provides an extension of passageway 11 1 through piston 106 and the rear wall of the spring chamber into a chamber formed inside of base plate 94 and base plug 96. This chamber is opened by means of passageway 115 to an annular chamber 116 formed between the outside of tubular member 92 and the inside of tubular member 88. Thus as noted above, when it is desired to retract tubular member 66 from a position illustrated in FIG. 9 to a position illustrated in FIG. 8, fluid is injected through conduit 113, passageway 111 and passageway 115 into chamber 116 where the pressure acts to retract the third tubular member 66. Expansion and retraction of the third tubular member may be accomplished with the gripping arms 100 and 101 either in the closed position or in the open position. These gripper arms 100 and 101 are pivotally mounted by suitable pins 120 and 121 on extension of tubular member 66. Suitable pins also connect tubular members 66 and 92 together. Slots 122 and 123 are provided in the members and pin 124 slideably goes through these slots in a hole provided in push rod 108 to mount the arms so that opening and closing thereof can occur due to the extension an retraction of push rod 108.

In FIGS. 14-19, the operation of the preferred embodiment of apparatus is schematically depicted. In

split block 22 were disconnected from tubing section 9 and lowered to a position for connection to tubing section 11. During this time tubing section 9 was unscrewed from tubing section 11 by means of power swivel 3 2 and backup 34. As the tubing section 9 was Y being disconnected, gripper'arms 62 and 64 extended in proper sequence with respect to split traveling block 22 to a position 'to releasably hold the tubing section 9.

As is well known in the art, a split block 22 has four hoist cables used to elevate and to lower the split block. Thus there are cables (not shown) behind hoist cables 28 and 30. The gripper arms may work between any two of these cables to contact the tubing section or the like. Thus it is possible that the apparatus of the invention may be positioned on any side of the well to pick up and lay down tubing when a split block is being used. In many practical instances, however, because of the presence of a hoist boom on one side of the well, the present apparatus can generally be used on one of the other three sides. The use of a split block also per-v mits the present apparatus to engage tubing above the block and to thus eliminate the need for-manual operation up on the top of the hoist boom as was necessary heretofore.

As shownin FIG. 15, after the tubing section 9 has been disconnected from the tubing string, the boom 50 is elevated to clear the lower end of the tubing over the split block and the gripper means 62, 64. are retracted to free the tubing from the hoist cables 28 and 30. In this instance, the gripper means are operating between hoist cable 30 and the cable back of hoist cable 30. The boom 50 was elevated by supporting means 39 being telescopically extended from upright means 40 by means of push rod 54 extending from hydraulic cylinder 52. The upright means 40, the supporting means 39 and the boom 50 are rotated through an appropriate angle as indicated in FIG. 16. This angle may vary depending on-where it is desired to lay down the tubing section 9 after the tubing section has been moved so as to clear the traveling block '22 and the hoist cables. The traveling block and the nexttubing section 11 connected thereto by means of elevators and links 24 and 26 may be lifted out of the wellhead 14. This insures that another section of tubing will be ready to be laid down by the apparatus of the present invention immediately upon return to an upright and rotated position. After having been rotated, the boom 50 is pivoted as shown in FIG. 17 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supporting means 39 to lower the upper end of the boom and to hold the tubing section 9 substantially in a horizontal position. This pivoting is accomplished by suitable means such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 56 connected across th pivoted portion of the boom 50.

As shown in FIG. 18, the tubing section 9 is being laid down in a horizontal fashion on a suitable pipe '8 rack. The boom 50 has been lowered to the position there shown by means of retracting the supporting means 39 with respect to the upright means 40. Boom 50 can be stopped at any height by stopping push rod 54 in cylinder 52 which permits racking tubing sections at any height ranging from well above the top of the wellhead to below the top of the wellhead. Thus the preferred embodiment of apparatus has racked tubing from 109 inches above to 22 inches below the top of the wellhead. The gripper means 62, 64 are released from the tubing section 9 when it is in position on the rack. During this operation, the next tubing section 11 has been fully lifted out of the well by'the hoist and the tubing slips may be then set against the next section of tubing 13 extending into the well. The elevator 20 then slides down around tubing section 11 and the split traveling block traverses the center of tubing section 1 1. The apparatus of the present invention is raised to a vertical position and rotated to be in a position illustrated in FIG. 19 as the traveling block descends down the tubing section 11. The gripper means 62, 64 may then be sequentially extended to releasably hold the tubing section 11 in a vertical position when it is being unscrewed and disconnected from the tubing string. It is, of course, apparent that if instead of pulling a tubing 7 string it is desired to run a tubing string, the opposite sequence of operation would provide for picking up the tubing and placing it in position for connection to the tubing string.

While only selected embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the invention is not to be limited to such embodiments but rather only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for picking up and laying down elongated well elements comprising a generally upright means carrying supporting means telescopically extendible and retractable along the longitudinal axis'of said upright means, means rotatably mounting said upright means, a boom having one end pivotally connected to said supporting means and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof, means for pivoting said boom with respect to the longitudinal axis of said supporting means to raise and lower the other end of said boom and gripper means on theboom for releasably holding an elongated well element generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the gripper means are telescopically extendible and retractable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the means rotatably mounting said upright means provides eccentric rotational movement of said upright means. I

4. Apparatus for picking up and laying down elongated well elements comprising rotatably mounted upright means, an axially extendible supporting means in said upright means, a boom having one end pivotally connected to said extendible supporting means and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof, means forpivoting said boom with respect to the longitudinal axis of said extendible supporting means to raise and lower the other end of said boom and gripper means on the boom for releasably holding an elongated well element substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the gripper means are telescopically extendible and retractable.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that the means rotatably mounting said upright means provides eccentric rotational movement of said upright means.

7. Apparatus comprising an upright means, a base flange on the lower end of said upright means, means rotatably mounting said base flange to permit rotational movement'of said upright means about its longitudinal axis, a telescoping supporting means'slideably contained in said upright means, means for extending and retracting said telescope supporting means with respect to said upright means, an articulated boom having a lower portion constrained within said telescoping supporting means for movement therewith, and an upper portion extending out of the upper end of said telescoping supporting means, means connected to said boom across the articulation thereof for pivoting the upper portion with respect to the lower portion to raise and lower the upper portion and gripper means on the upper portion of said boom for releasably holding elongated well elements substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said upper portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the gripper means are telescopically extendible and retractable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the means rotatably mounting said upright means provides eccentric rotational movement of said upright means. v

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the lower portion of said boom is free to move upwardly with respect to said supporting means.

11. A method of laying down tubing sections disconnected from a segmented tubing string which is being pulled from a well comprising the steps of lifting an upper tubing section of a tubing string from a well and supporting such tubing section in vertical alignment, supporting the portion of the tubing string remaining in the well at the wellhead, disconnecting the tubing section from the portion of the tubing string supported at the wellhead while maintaining said tubing section in vertical alignment, grasping the disconnected tubing section from a remote location, moving said tubing section while still vertically aligned away from the longitudinal center line of the well toward said remote position, rotating said tubing section about a vertical axis of said remote position through a preselected angle while maintaining said tubing section in vertical alignment, transferring said tubing section to a horizontal position after such rotation and releasing the grasp on said tubing section to lay down said tubing section at said horizontal position.

12. A method of connecting a tubing section to a segmented tubing string which is being run into a well -comprising the steps of grasping a substantially horizontally positioned tubing section, pivoting said tubing section to a vertical position, rotating said tubing section about a vertical axis of a remote position from said tubing section through a predetermined angle while maintaining said tubing section in vertical position, moving said tubing section away from said remote position while still vertically positioned toward the longitudinal center line of a well, positioning said tubing section over a tubing string being run into said well an connecting said vertically positioned tubing section into the tubing string at said well. 

1. Apparatus for picking up and laying down elongated well elements comprising a generally upright means carrying supporting means telescopically extendible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of said upright means, means rotatably mounting said upright means, a boom having one end pivotally connected to said supporting means and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof, means for pivoting said boom with respect to the longitudinal axis of said supporting means to raise and lower the other end of said boom and gripper means on the boom for releasably holding an elongated well element generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the gripper means are telescopically extendible and retractable.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the means rotatably mounting said upright means provides eccentric rotational movement of said upright means.
 4. Apparatus for picking up and laying down elongated well elements comprising rotatably mounted upright means, an axially extendible supporting means in said upright means, a boom having one end pivotally connected to said extendible supporting means and being coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof, means for pivoting said boom with respect to the longitudinal axis of said extendible supporting means to raise and lower the other end of said boom and gripper means on the boom for releasably holding an elongated well element substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the gripper means are telescopically extendible and retractable.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that the means rotatably mounting said upright means provides eccentric rotational movement of said upright means.
 7. Apparatus comprising an upright means, a base flange on thE lower end of said upright means, means rotatably mounting said base flange to permit rotational movement of said upright means about its longitudinal axis, a telescoping supporting means slideably contained in said upright means, means for extending and retracting said telescope supporting means with respect to said upright means, an articulated boom having a lower portion constrained within said telescoping supporting means for movement therewith, and an upper portion extending out of the upper end of said telescoping supporting means, means connected to said boom across the articulation thereof for pivoting the upper portion with respect to the lower portion to raise and lower the upper portion and gripper means on the upper portion of said boom for releasably holding elongated well elements substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said upper portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the gripper means are telescopically extendible and retractable.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the means rotatably mounting said upright means provides eccentric rotational movement of said upright means.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the lower portion of said boom is free to move upwardly with respect to said supporting means.
 11. A method of laying down tubing sections disconnected from a segmented tubing string which is being pulled from a well comprising the steps of lifting an upper tubing section of a tubing string from a well and supporting such tubing section in vertical alignment, supporting the portion of the tubing string remaining in the well at the wellhead, disconnecting the tubing section from the portion of the tubing string supported at the wellhead while maintaining said tubing section in vertical alignment, grasping the disconnected tubing section from a remote location, moving said tubing section while still vertically aligned away from the longitudinal center line of the well toward said remote position, rotating said tubing section about a vertical axis of said remote position through a preselected angle while maintaining said tubing section in vertical alignment, transferring said tubing section to a horizontal position after such rotation and releasing the grasp on said tubing section to lay down said tubing section at said horizontal position.
 12. A method of connecting a tubing section to a segmented tubing string which is being run into a well comprising the steps of grasping a substantially horizontally positioned tubing section, pivoting said tubing section to a vertical position, rotating said tubing section about a vertical axis of a remote position from said tubing section through a predetermined angle while maintaining said tubing section in vertical position, moving said tubing section away from said remote position while still vertically positioned toward the longitudinal center line of a well, positioning said tubing section over a tubing string being run into said well and connecting said vertically positioned tubing section into the tubing string at said well. 